The fighter’s most precious resource is his supply of hit points. In no uncertain terms, a fighter’s hit points measure his ability to continue doing what he does best: fight. Without hit points, it doesn’t matter how strong or fast you are, because you have lost the fight.
A wise fighter manages this resource carefully, and in a warrior campaign, this becomes even more important (since there probably isn’t a cleric around when you need one). In general, managing your hit points comes down to two things: saving them until needed, and restoring them when lost.
Saving Hit Points
Stay Alert: While no amount of preparation or feat selection can ensure that you are never caught flat-footed, every time you avoid giving up a surprise round or a sneak attack to a foe, you have gained an edge. Make sure somebody in the group—such as the barbarian or ranger—has a high initiative modifier (Improved Initiative is key) and a good Spot or Listen modifier.
Keep Your Distance: The reason that 1st-level wizards prefer magic missile to shocking grasp is that the former lets them hit opponents from a long way away. Learn this lesson well. Most characters in your group should carry a bow, or failing that, a loaded crossbow, when trudging through the dungeon. (If you have a big enough group, you can afford to have at least one character who specializes in ranged combat.) Assuming you aren’t ambushed, chances are you will be able to get off at least one shot at your opponent before melee begins. While the few points of damage dealt by that shot may not seem impressive when compared to your average sword- or axe-swing, those may be the few points that keep the monster from getting another full attack against you later in the encounter. In fact, in most fights, the longer you stay out of melee range, the better your chances of success. The exception, of course, is if your opponent has better ranged attacks than you.
Smaller Fights Are Better: Though a sorcerer may complain about only having two bugbears to incinerate with his fireball, the fewer opponents faced by a fighter simultaneously, the better. In most rounds, you can only damage a very limited number of opponents (unlike a typical spellcaster), but many opponents might be able to damage you. Never let an enemy escape (he’s probably going for reinforcements), and never let an enemy shout a warning. If one of the goblins carries a horn, take him out first. If there’s a big drum in the middle of the guard post, put an arrow through it right away.
Avoid Unnecessary Fights: Just because a half-dozen orcs are standing between you and the entrance to the enemy’s fortress doesn’t mean you have to fight them now, or ever. Despite the oft-repeated advice never to leave enemies behind you, if you do your job right, an enemy avoided now can easily become an enemy avoided forever. Do you really think those orcs are going to stick around to fight you after you have defeated their master and set the castle ablaze? Just because you can fight the orcs doesn’t mean you should. Even though the result of the fight seems a foregone conclusion, all one of those orcs needs to do is score a key critical hit to make the fight much more costly than you had anticipated.
Restoring Hit Points
Take Care of Yourself: Each character must be much more self-reliant when it comes to healing. If possible, every PC should carry around a supply of potions. If you don’t have enough potions to restore you from 0 hit points to full normal hit points (assuming average rolls), you’re taking a serious chance that you won’t be around to see the end of the adventure.
Use All Available Resources: An often-overlooked option for any character is to pick up alchemical items which aid in natural recovery. These items range from ointments and potions to candles and incense. Although they may have a hefty price tag attached to them, most of these items are well worth the gold.
Rest: When all else fails, take time off from fighting. Every day of rest is another few hit points for the next battle. Make sure you have at least one character with some ranks in the Heal skill—long-term care dramatically reduces the downtime between adventures forced by lost hit points.
